Boiler governor



prior application foi` boiler'governors filed Y Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

i UNirEn STATES l iraqi-,221' PATENT OFFICE.

. JAMEs r. FISHER, or BARTLEsviLLn,l OKLAHOMA, Assrenon To nonER'rY RESEARCH COMPANY, or NEW' YORK, N. Y.,

A- CORPORATION or DELAWARE;

BOILER GOVERNOR.

Application Y filed Juiy 2, 1924; sei-mino. 723,842.

The presentinvention relates to the automatic control of the steam pressure of boilers and is', more specifically an improvel ment on the construction disclosed in my Aug. 15, 1923, Ser. No. 657,505.

In the apparatus according to my said prior application, steam from a boiler to be l controlled by the governor is passed through an aspirator, to draw a current of air through a valve controlled passage. A diaphragm' subject to the steam pressure in said boiler operates the valve for controlling said passage to throttle the flow ofr air, thus"producing an' increasingvacuum between the valve and theaspirator with incre'asingboiler pressure. The fuel feeding' means or damper operating means or both are governed bythe vacuum soi produced to maintain a substantially constant boiler pressure. 4

Infthe practical operation of tli'e saidapparatus, a difficulty has been encountered iii maintaining a proper degree of regulation of the, steamY pressure in the boiler whenever the governor was fed with' wetv steam. The probable yexplanation of' thisV difficulty is that' the ordinary type of aspirator illustrated in my said prior Vapplication, develops what is known Vas a bushy discharge when called upon to usevsteamcontaining more'than a small percentage' of moisture and it is well known thatan aspirator does not act efficiently and cannot maintain a good vacuum when developing abushy7 discharge. It has been' necessary therefore to place the governor according to my said prior application, near the steamdome of a boiler and thus in a place almost inaccessible to the fireman. The governor Y therefore would receive the minimum of attention and scale and dirt would often'be permitted to collect inthe steam passagesV and in the air passages until the apparatusv fails to maintainthe desired steam pressure. It is, accordingly, one of the lobiects of the present invention to produce a' boiler governor having a simple and eflicient aspi rator structure capable ofdeveloping and maintaining a good vacuum on wetste'am.`

A second object of the present invention is to provide aV boiler governor having a high degree ofsensitiveness.

A further object ofV the Lpresent invention is to provide a boiler governorl in'which the parts are-readily accessible for 4inspection ther objects and advantages, will'be readily understood from the following description taken in connection With the accompanying drawing in whichd Fig. 1 is-a plan of a boiler governor according to the present invention;

y Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line` 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig k3 is a detail section taken `on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detail section illustrating-the diaphragm and button construction of the governor.illustrated in Figs. land 2.

The boiler governor embodying the present invention is constructed to develop a vacuum pressure by use of steam from the. boiler, and this vacuum pressure is'used'toy control the fuel feed and the air supply to the' furnace. The vacuum pressure developedv by the governor is automatically varied in accrdancewith the variations of the steam pressuretof control the fire yin the boiler furnace and thus maintain a constant boiler steam-pressure.

An aspirator is used in the governor for developiii'gthe vacuum pressure which is so constructed thatl it may operate effectively `with' wet steam and'may be readily cleaned if the steam carries dirt or scale. The aspirator is illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein 6 is a casing having thereina steam chamber 8 and a steam inlet 10 :connected With said chamber; and'desig'ned to be connected 'to the interior of the boiler, the steam pressure of which it is intended'to control.4 One Wall t of chamber S'has a threaded aperture 12 therein in whichv is'supported an aspirator tube 14. The inner end of the' tube 14 projects into thechamber 8, While the body of the tube extends through the threaded aperture 12, an air chamber 16, land the outer wall of the casing 6. Two openings 18 are formed on the portion of the tube 14 Which passes through the airchamber 16 to permit communication between the interior of the aspirator tube andthe air chamber. A longitudinal bore extends through the tube 14 which consists'ofportions 2() and 22. The bore 2O yextends vfrom the inner end of ythe tube 14C rto the openings 18 and the bore 22 extends from the openings 22 to the outer end of the tube 14. The diameter ot the bore 2O is approximately one-half of the diameter of the bore 22, and is so designed to obtain the 'proper aspirating effect for maintaining the desired vacuum. A pin 24 eX- tends theent-ire length of the bores 20 and 22 and has an enlarged tapering head 26 projecting into the steam chamber 8 with a portion oi the head entering into the bore 20. The end of the pin 24 opposite the head 26 is reduced as shown at 28 and extends through a threaded plug 8O4 which closes the outer end of the bore 22. A socket 32 is formed in the outer end ofV the plug and reduced end 28 of the pin 24 extends into the socket at the time that a shoulder on the pin adjacent the reduced portion 28 is against the end of the plug. In the normal operation of the aspirator the pin 24 will be supportedrin the plug 30 with the head 26 resting on the lower portion of the bore 20. The steam pressure acting against the head 26 will tend to hold the shouldered end of the pin against the inner rend ot the plug 30. A lock nut 34 is threaded on the plug 30 by which itV may be locked in any desired posit-ion when adjusting the plug to.

permit the desired amount ot steam to pass between the head 26 and the bore 20. Gpening 36 is formed in the outer end of the tube 34 just behind the plug 8O to permity the aspirating steam to exhaust to the at` mospliere. The outer end of the tube 14 is supported inthe casing 6 by means of a packing gland -38 and packing 40`which provides a tight joint between the casing and the tuber adjacent the air chamber 16. It any scale or dirt collects at the entrance of the bore 20 around the tapered head 26, or around the pin 24 in the bores 20 and 22, this dirt and scale may be easily removed by inserting an instrument in the socket` 32 of the plug 30`to force the pin 24 back into the steam chamber 8 to allow an increased flow of steam through the bores 2O and 22. This increased flow of steam will act to remove the dirt and scale and it will be observed that thiscleaning operation may be carried on without discontinuing the operation of the boiler governor.

The variations of the vacuum pressure with the steam pressure of the boiler are made by means ot a diaphragm operated y valve, the diaphragm of which is in direct Ycontact with steam from the boiler. To this end a second casing 42 is mounted on top of the casing 6 and a valve 52 is mounted in a passageway 44 extending upwardly from the air chamber 16 through the Casing 6 and entirely through the casing 42. A passageway 46 formed in the casing 42 is arranged to intersect the passageway 44 at right angles, and a pipel 48 is mounted inV the passageway 46 by which the vacuum pressure formed in the chamber 16 may be imparted to fuel feeding or damper regulating means, or the like, which are to be controlled by the governor. A valve seat 50 is mounted in the passageway 44 directly opposite the lower edge of the passageway 46 and the ball valve 52 is mounted to normally rest on the seat 50. The portion of the passageway 44 extending upwardly from the ball valve 52, is threaded to receive a sleeve 54 which extends 'downwardly to the upper edge of the passageway 46. A lock nut 55 is mounted on the sleeve 54 'by which the sleeve may be lockedv in any desired position. The lower end of the sleeve 54 forms valve 52 may rest ifit is moved upwardly from the seat 50. A stem 56connected with the valve 52 runs through the sleeve 54 and the bore ot the sleeve is sufficiently large to provide an air space 58 Abetween the sleeve and the valve stem to permit air to enter into the pipe 48 or into the passageway `44 when the valve 52 is in the proper position for air to enter the pipe or passageway.

valve seat against which therllie valve'52 is operated through the stern casing 6 having 'a passageway 64 leadingV from the .steam chamber 8 to a recess 66, covered by the diaphragm. A button 68 rests on the diaphragm 62 and carries a' post 70, the tree end of which rprojects into a socket 72 on a lever 74. One end of the lever 74 is connected tothe spring 60 and the other end of thelever has a knife edge contact with a bar 76 fixed on the casting 42, see Fig. 3. The diaphragm 62, see Fig.` 4, is formed in two layers, the outer layer 63 being fastened to the button 68 by a screw 94, and the inner layer being continuous and in direct Contact with the boiler steam. The valve operating stem 56 is connected to the lever 74 intermediate the sock- .et 72 and the spring 60 by means of a universal joint connection. .The universal joint comprises a link 78 connected to one end otthe stein 56u by a Cotter pin 8O and its other end to a rivet 82 in the lever 74 by means of a pivot pin 84. Pins 8O and 84 are set at right angles so that the link 78 has a universal joint action-to provide for irregularities in the moveinentoic the lever' llt) ' ig'eoogzai areenclosed in a hood forjproteetionffrom corrosion and breakage. .A portion of the hood, consists of an upwardly extending secrsubstantially as follows: Livefstelain from the boiler enters' the chamber 8 and comes in: direct Contact witlfi-r the diaphragm V62. Steam passes through thebore 2O in the tube.14 Yand bythe restricted wire drawing flow of steam between the head'26 and the bore. 2O any water in the steam will Vbe vaporized so that Vsubstantially nothing but vapor passes through bore 20. Iffthe steam is very wet the highV temperature of thev tube a14 in contact with the pressure' steam willv assist in vaporizing any water due Vto the reduced pressure ot the steam fonftlie bore norwat'er reaches the enlarged bore 22 of so that thetube14. Further, asV the steain'pa'sses through the small 'boi-e 20 it will have a' high velocity so that a Substantially cylin-V drical vbody oi steamfpasses into the boie 22 and there isno tendency for steam or water to condense iny thefbore' 22 and for water and steam to passthrough the passages 18 int-o the'air chamber 16. Accordingly, the boilergovernor"maybe used in any 4position with' reference to the boilerv without having its operation'interfered with by wet steam. The velocity ofthe" steam through the aspiratingV tube 14 tends to` draw in air from the, chamber 16 through' the passages 18 to create a vacuum in the chamber 16 and passage 44. The pressure of the steam against the diaphragm 62 tends to raise the button 68 and at the saine time raise the valve 52 through its connection with a lever to permit the air to be drawn in to the tube 44 and ejected with the steam through the tube 14. If the steam pressure is high enough the valve 52 will be raised a suiiicient distance toV engage the upper valve seat 54 and thus cut off the air flowing into the passageway 44 at which time a full vacuum pressure will be developed in the chamber 16, passage 44. and pipe 48. As the steam pressure varies to raise and lower the diaphragm 62` the valve 52 will reciprocate between the valve seats and 54 to increase and decrease the vacuum effect on the chamber 16 and pipe 48. This change in the vacuum effect will be imparted to the fuel feeding and air consubstantially' trolling mechanism to control the fire otitlie boiler; The -spring -y opposes vthe action lofthe diaphragm and tends to hold the valve 52 on the valve seat 50. The tension` of thisV spring may be adjusted by the wingv nut 96 shown in Fig. 2. The adjustment o'i the 'spring 60=and the length otthe vpost of theV leiitton'68 canbe made Ysuch that the valve 52 will rise and a'llbetweenthe valverseatsrO'and 54 tomaintaiii any desiredlvacuum effect in the pipe 48.v

`The inventionhaving been thus described` whatis claimed asl new isrz- 1i In a boiler governor, a diaphragmsub- 'ject' to gaseous pressure, an aspirator oper-y ated by said gas and liavingf-anfair inlet, a

lvalvecontrolling the air inlet tosaid aspirater, and af-lever mechanism,connectedto said valve, said mechanisml comprising an Voperating connection with saiddiaphragm andl a spring opposing' said diaphragm. 2.I In aboiler governor, a-diaphragm subject to gaseouspressure, an aspirator operated by said gas and having an air inlet', a

passage connecting with saidinlet, a doubleseat yvalve acting to connect said passage to said'inlet or to connect said passage to atino-sphere, and an operating 'connectionl between said :valve andlsaid diaphragm.l f

3. In a boiler governor, a' diaphragm sub-l j ect to* gaseous pressure,- an" aspirator operated by said gas; and having an jair inlet', a

passage connected to the inlet-of saidI aspirator, a'double-seat valv'efari'angedto conne'ctthe. said passageeitherl to said `aspiratoror to atmosphere, and operating connections between saidvalve and saiddiaphragm, said connections including auniversal joint.

`l4. In aboilerl governor, diaphragm sub-- kjectto gaseous pressure,anaspiratorv oper-l ated'by said gas and'hav'ing an air inlet, a

`passage'connected tothe inlet otsaidiaspirator, a double-seat valve arranged yto connect the sa-idpassage either to saidfaspirator or to atmosphere, afte-nsioned'devicei nor-- mally holding said valve to one of its seats, and operating connections between the diaphragm and said device adapted to displace said valve.

5. In a boiler governor, a diaphragm subject to gaseous pressure, an aspirator operated by said gas and having an air inlet, a passage connected to the inlet of said aspirator, a double-seat valve arranged to connect the said passage either to said aspirator or to atmosphere, a tensioned device normally holding` said valve to one of its seats, and means movable by the diaphragm for opposing the force exerted by the tensioned device.

6. In a boiler governor, a diaphragm subject to gaseous pressure, an aspirator having a longitudinal bore therein and operated by said gas, means Jforming an air inlet for said aspirator, a valve controlling said airkinlet and operated by said diaphragm, and a pin mounted in said boreand having an enlarded head at the inlet end thereof to throttle'thev passage of gas into the bore.

7. In a boiler governor, a diaghragmsubject to gaseous pressure, an aspirator having means whereby said pin may be reciprocated in said bore Without interrupting the operation of the remaining parts of the boiler governor device. Y

`8. Ina boiler governor, a diaphragm subject to gaseous pressure, an aspirator operated by said pressure, means forming an air inlet to said aspirator, a valve for controllingsaid inlet, a stem and lever connection between the valve and said diaphragm, and a pivoted hood normally enclosing said connection.

9. In a boiler governor, an aspirator comprising a steam tube, a pin within said tube and having an enlarged'head at the inlet end ,of vthe tube, and means whereby the position of vsaid head maybe adjusted with respect to the inlet of said tube.

l0. In Ya 'boiler` governor, an aspirator comprising alined steam and. discharge tubes, a pin Ywithin said tubes having an enlarged head at the inlet of saidv steam 'tube, and an adjustable plug at the discharge end of said air tube, said pin having av shoulder in contact with said plug.

11. In a boiler governor, an aspirator comprising alined steam and discharge tubes, a pin within saidv tubes having an enlarged head at the inlet of said steam tube, and an adjustable plug at the discharge end of said air tube, said pin extending through said plug and having a shoulder in contact with the inner end of said plug.

for establishing communication between said vacuum chamberjand said passage.

13. In combination, a body having a pressure chamber, a movable member closing an outlet from said chamber, the movements or said member being controlled by the pressure of a gas, a passage in the body opening `at both ends to the exterior of thebody,

an aspirator operable by said gaseous pressure, a vacuum chamber in which the suction of the aspirator is effective, and means under t-he control of said movable member for establishing communication ybetween said vacuum chamber and said passage, said means including a stem litting loosely in 'one end of said passage. j Y

14. In combination, a body having a pressure chamber, a movable member closing V an outlet from said chamber, themovements of said member being -controlled by the` pressure of a gas, a passage in the body opening at bothv ends to the exterior of the body, an Vaspirator operable by-said gaseous pressure, a vacuum chamber in which the suction or the aspirator is eective, andV means under the control of said movable member for establishing communication between said vacuum chamber and said passage, said means including a stem litting loosely in one end of said passage, a lever operable by the diaphragm and a universal connection between said stem and lever.

In testimony whereof I arix my signature.

JAMES P. FISHER. 

